Facts and Myths About Poisonous Mushrooms

Learning about poisonous mushrooms is crucial if you want to start eating specimens you find in the woods. The consequences of eating the wrong wild mushroom range from dizziness to severe diarrhea to even death. Yes, you can die from making a mistake.

That said, mushroom hunting isn't the hazardous experience that some would have you believe. Many people, myself included, have safely eaten wild mushrooms. We do this through a combination of education and caution.

Always make a positive identification and only eat young, fresh specimens. For your own safety, there must be no doubt in your mind. If eating something new for the first time, only try a small amount and wait 24 hours to see if it effects you negatively.

If you're not interested in eating wild mushrooms that's okay. Truthfully, most of them don't taste very good (although some are delicious). It's still fun to learn the poisonous species, as some of them are very beautiful. You just may be surprised at just how many poisonous mushrooms you see on a daily basis!

Please remember that this is not a definitive guide, only an introduction. Don't eat anything based on what you've read here. No page on the Internet will replace real life experience and instruction. Poisonous mushroom identification is something that should be learned hands-on.

We'll start by looking at some of the famous and common toxic mushrooms such as Amanitas, little brown mushrooms, and false morels. These are responsible for almost all the deadly poisonings in the United States. They're often mistaken for something edible, so it's important to learn how to recognize and avoid them.

I've also included a brief, but by no means exhaustive, list of some other poisonous species. Finally we'll conclude with some myths in hopes to dispel some of the misinformation out there.

Famous Poisonous Mushrooms

The Infamous Amanita

The Amanita mushroom genus contains some of the deadliest mushrooms in the world. Certain species of Amanita contain amanitin, a lethal toxin that kills by shutting down the liver and kidneys.

Learning to recognize an Amanita is a key aspect of poisonous mushroom identification. Fortunately they aren't too hard to spot if you know what you're looking for. Check out this page to help you identify poisonous mushrooms in the Amanita genus.

Not every Amanita is dangerous but some will kill. Of those, the majority of fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide are attributed to the aptly named "death cap", or Amanita phalloides. Check out the page on the death cap for more information about this deadly mushroom and its cousin, the destroying angel.

LBMs (Little Brown Mushrooms) Are Everywhere

It's no secret that all those little brown mushrooms on the ground look similar and are hard to identify. These types of mushrooms are nicknamed LBMs, or "little brown mushrooms".

Many LBMs are harmless; others will make you sick. A few contain the same amatoxins as certain amanitas. For this reason it's best to avoid all little brown mushrooms when collecting for the table. A mistake could be deadly, so leave these complicated identifications to those with microscopes!

False Morels (Gyromitra and Verpa species)

The term "false morel" encompasses several different species that are often mistaken for the edible delicacies in the Morchella genus (true morels).

Many false morels contain chemicals that are toxic, causing vomiting, dizziness, and sometimes death. However, people in some parts of the world boil and eat them with no apparent ill effect.

With all the confusion surrounding false morels, it's best to learn how to identify them properly. This page on the false morel has facts, identification information, and a look at why some people think they're safe to eat.

I recommend avoiding the false morels altogether. No one knows how toxic any given false morel will be, so it's just not worth the risk.

The Jack o'Lantern (Omphalotus olearius)

The jack o'lantern, or Omphalotus olearius, is a famous mushroom due to its often being mistaken for certain types of gourmet chanterelles.

The jack o'lantern contains a different toxin, called muscarine. This chemical causes diarrhea and sever cramps. They're not deadly, but poisoning yourself with one will result in an extremely unpleasant experience. Hospitalization is sometimes necessary.

Because chanterelle mushrooms are so highly prized, it's important to learn about the jack o'lantern so you don't make this mistake. You can find more information on Omphalotus olearius here.

Myths: Never Rely on These for Poisonous Mushroom Identification

Another cause of poisoning is relying on myths to help identify poisonous mushrooms. This strategy is dangerous, as many of these myths are inaccurate and have no scientific basis. To help avoid sickness (or worse!) never use a folk tale when making a classification. Instead use local knowledge gained from books and forays with experts.

Below are some common examples of poisonous mushroom "fiction".

All white mushrooms are safe to eat. I have actually heard people say this and it may be the most erroneous myth of all. Not all poisonous mushrooms are brightly colored. The destroying angel from earlier in this page is just one glaring example of a hazardous white mushroom.

Heating a poisonous mushroom and stirring it with a silver spoon will turn the spoon black. Some believe that the toxins will blacken silver when heated. This myth has been around for a long time with no basis in fact. To date no toxins are known to have this reaction with silver.

Any mushroom is safe to eat once thoroughly cooked. This is an unreliable assumption. Most toxins are not broken down by heat and are not made safer by cooking.

Insects can tell which mushrooms are poisonous and will avoid them. Not true! Just because it's deadly to us doesn't mean it's deadly to a bug. Some toxic species, such as the death cap, will still harbor insects and their larvae.

They taste bitter/sour/bad. Don't rely on those tricky taste buds! I've read reports of people mistakenly eating amanitas
and saying they tasted good.

All poisonous mushrooms have a pointed cap. The shape of any part of a mushroom plays no role in its toxicity.

There you have it! Always stick to the species you know and seek hand-on local instruction. However, even experienced mushroom hunters have poisoned themselves so remember the age-old adage:

Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story.

TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph.

The information on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a qualified physician or health practictioner for diagnosis and treatment of any condition. This site is also not to be used as the final word in identification. Never eat anything you haven't positively identified at least three times before.
Please use your common sense and be safe!